Saved Schools

Frederick County Middle School

Frederick County Middle School, nominated by an anonymous organization, is a middle school in Winchester, Virginia that describes itself as a public district school serving learners from a primarily rural area.

Location Winchester, Virginia

Governance Public district school

Grades Middle

Students 785

Locale rural

Principal Dr. Jerry L. Putt

Demographics

Percentage of students*

18%

Students with Disabilities

40%

Free/Reduced Lunch

7%

English Learners

White

Hispanic/Latino

Black/African American

2+ Races

American Indian

Asian

Hawaiian National

Why Frederick County Middle School was nominated

Frederick County Middle School is a district public school serving a largely rural population. Their model incorporates Innovation Hour advisory (60-minute periods, every other day). The advisory is designed to engage students in educational opportunities of their own choosing that integrate academic core knowledge with real world learning challenges. These self-directed learning opportunities are coupled with student-led assessments that assess the extent to which students have accomplished their learning goals. Through their partnership with the district and with third parties including Battelle for Kids and George Mason University, they are working to improve the evidence based practices that support successful self-directed learning and student agency.

Student experience design

Scholars at Frederick County Middle School participate in the tradition four core content classes for 50 min each day. Each and every scholar has innovation hour for 50 minutes every other day. Every scholar gets to choose their class for the last 40 minutes of the day. Lastly, we have a team of combined 7th and 8th graders that engage in self directed learning experiences for half of their day each and every day.

Core Practices

Core Practices Length of Use

Students As Co-leaders

1-2 years

Co-leadership

1-2 years

All Courses Designed For Inclusion

5+ years

All Practices

Assessments For Career Readiness

Assessments For Deeper Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Teachers As Co-leaders

Community And Business Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Competency/mastery-based Education

Culturally Responsive Practices

Extended Learning Opportunities

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Grading Policies Focus On Mastery

Hiring For Equity And Inclusion Values

Interdisciplinary

Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies

Mental Health Services

Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics

No Tracked Classes

Multiple Opportunities To Demonstrate Mastery

Project-based Learning

Performance Based Assessment

Physical Well Being Services

Restorative Practices

SEL Integration School-wide

Students Access Their Own Data

Student-led Goal Setting

Self-paced Learning

Students Develop Projects

Trauma-informed Practices

key reasons for innovating

Mental health concerns

Date Updated: April 2024

*Canopy profile data is self-reported or sourced from NCES data, then verified by school leaders.